Thursday, 5 January 2012

Getting Connected…

Well, I have to say that we haven’t had a particularly good start to 2012 here at Horton HQ. We have been coping with high winds, persistent power cuts and (shriek) a laptop that refused to see in the New Year with us.

It’s shocking (or it would be if we had any power) how much we (I) now rely on the internet to work and connect with colleagues and friends on social networks, forums, Twitter, Facebook and Blogs. All of these things, together with the checking of ones Amazon rankings (okay, so it’s probably better if I don’t do that more than once a day!) means connecting on-line for at least a couple of hours each day.

I’m only able to be with you now, dear readers, because Mr JH has ingeniously managed to connect my new Touchpad (a present from Santa!) with his mobile phone ‘hot spot’ and made it possible for me to blog to you via satellite – how cool is that?!

So, what news do I bring you may ask…?

Well, my getting connected plans for 2012 of course…!

First off, I’m planning a writerly getaway to connect with writing a new novel!

I’ll be popping in from time to time over the next couple of weeks of course, and have some fabulous Author Showcase features for you, but otherwise I will be making a start on Book #4 or The WIP (work in progress) as it must be called because as yet this new venture does not have a title.

However, in true Horton style I have already done all the necessary and extensive research needed to identify with my lovely lady lawyer heroine, by actually working in a Solicitor’s office to get a real feel for her world!

I was hoping that when I’ve written a brief synopsis of the story, you might come up with a suitable title for me – what do you think? Let’s have some suggestions with something legal sounding in the title – but it’s a romance remember!

And also, to connect with my wonderful writer friends and my lovely readers, I plan to attend these amazing events being organised throughout 2012!

The Loveahappyending Summer Audience is a one day reader/writer event being held on 16th June in Tetbury, Gloucester. As an editor with Loveahappyending and co-organiser of this event, I’ll be posting more information as soon as the Lovehappyending.org information and ticket site is launched in early February.

The Romantic Novelist’s Association Conference is being held over the weekend of 13th to 15th July at Penrith, Cumbria. Information can be found on the RNA Website.

The Festival of Romance is being held over the weekend of 16th to 18th November 2012 in Bedford: more information from the Festival Website.

So that’s my plans so far – what are yours – do tell?

Please pop back next week as I have a couple of fabulous author showcases lined up for you and I’ll be blogging from my secret writerly hideaway - probably via satellite!

The storms have been the worst we can remember, Janice - very bad here but at least we kept our power! All the best with that new novel and all you hope to achieve this year. Looking forward to Penrith!

My goodness, Janet, just reading your fantastic plans for 2012 leaves me breathless. How do you do it? And how do you get so organised??? Well done you, this sounds so exciting. I can't wait to hear more about these plans as they unfold... and see you at some of the events! Yay! Happy New Year and every success to you and yours. XX

oh noononononononono! I so totally mistyped your name, Janice! How embarrassing is that? Am not awake. Am really not with it. So sorry! Feel very dim. What's worth, I knew I'd done something dim when I was hitting 'publish' and now I can't undooooooooo! Sorry. Will you forgive me? Yours, Niccey XX

I have a deadline - two deadlines actually - so I'm trying to keep away from Twitter, Facebook and the rest as much as possible. Having said that, I hate it when I have no power and can't connect. I ought to see it as a way to get lots of writing done, but I can't relax until the power is restored.

I'm exhausted just reading about your ambitious plans for 2012! Hey, that's this year! Wow! Time sure flies when you're having fun. I'll be sure to check back next week to see where you've hidden yourself away on your writerly holiday.

Hope, too, you get a new computer and are able to salvage everything off the hard drive on your current one.

Wonderful blog! I could really relate to the "no internet!" I think it is amazing, especially for writers, how dependent everyone has become to the "connections" we have with out virtual support group! Vickie

I'm going out there to visit our youngest son, who works out in Tenerife as a scuba diving instructor - but while he is at work I'll be making a start on the new book and catching some sunshine.

Sorry to all you lovely people who have offered to carry my luggage, as I'm flying with a budget airline and on a tight budget, so I only have one very small bag to carry on. But hey, who needs more than a bikini, a notepad and a pen in Tenerife anyway.!?

Enjoy the sunshine! Hoping to follow more blogs this year but so hard to find the time! I have my debut women's comedy coming out (finally!) in April so need as many tips as possible about readings, Amazon and survival in general. Help!Best wishes, Catherine